After handing over the degrees through the former Director of Undergraduate Programs Darik Zebenigus, Associate Registrar Meseret Seifu and the Institutes Scientific Director Joachim Dieter, Guest of Honor Dr. Bekele Abebe had the pleasure to hand over Certificates of Distinction.

Ato Wendwosen Demrew, President of the Association of Ethiopian Architects, congratulated the graduating class with a commencement speech.

February 6th 2015 saw the signing of an agreement between the Addis Ababa Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BoLSA) and the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) towards the provision of Architectural Design consultancy services of two institutes, the first being The Institute for Rehabilitation and Medication of Physically Challenged People and the second being The Institute for Elders Retirement. The consultancy budget under agreement is an estimated ETB 3 million and is expected to run for six months.

The week included panel discussions and fun activities such as global village and amazing race.The aim of the event was to show case the importance of international exposure to the EiABC community.

Managing Director Dr.Ing Béatrice Delpouve, Scientific Director Joachim Dieter and AIESEC members and interns were present at these events.

Experimental building “MACU" in Addis Ababa finished

Tuesday, 30 December 2014 12:51

Official Opening with the Ethiopian students and the participants of the international symposium “integrated infrastructure” at EiABC Campus on Tuesday the 16th Dec.

On Friday, 12 December 2014, an international team of students and tutors in Addis Ababa finish the experimental building construction »MACU" (Mobile Automated Contemporary Unit) assembled in less than 24 hours.

MACU is the third and last prototype in a three-year collaboration between the EiABC at AAU, University of Juba (Sudan) and the Bauhaus University Weimar in the project "Concept-Test-Realization” in period 2012-2015. All three prototypes are based on a specific background seeking for local materials, affordable construction technologies and cost efficient procedures. The last proposal MACU is taking a step into the future of the way of production and used technology.

MACU is completely made out of CNC milled plywood which is made in Ethiopia out of Eucalyptus. The whole structure comes out of a fully parameterized digital model which is transferred directly to the automated production of the individual parts by milling 1.200 x 2400 x 18 mm plywood sheets in individual and identified elements here in Addis. A team of researcher together with a shared course in Weimar and Addis developed the design and fabrication model with algorithmic programming tools.

“The potential of this technology is the flexibility, quality, simplicity and robustness. Once the parts are manufactured completely controlled by computer then they just need to be assembled. We allowed only a rubber hammer on the site for joining the elements. All connections are adopted from furniture making and readymade engineering systems using principles link brackets, clamps and eccentric flaps which can be disassembled and rebuild." explained Prof. Dirk Donath, member of the Bauhaus’ institute for experimental architecture (ifex)) at the Bauhaus-University Weimar. It is the provocation to the international building market looking to production systems from other engineering fields like the car manufactures.

The aim of the project is to develop innovative and resource-saving technologies and construction production methods. In 2012 SECU was built on the EiABC’ campus in Addis Ababa made out on boards out of compressed. In 2013 a building (SICU) out of prefabricated composite elements was realized in the settlements of Addis Ababa in around ten days. This prototype won the 3rd prize of the "Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East" a few weeks ago.

Based on this experiences with those construction and process technologies, an international symposium Parallel took place in Addis Ababa from 15 to 17 December 2014. It was the kickoff event for wider and scaled up research and experimental implementation of a model neighborhood in the fields of social intervention, urban infrastructure, urban planning, construction management and open design concepts. The academic participants discussed together with representatives from politics and business the integrated planning approaches for an experimental way of living emerging urban settlements. The experts will bring together innovative, future-oriented solutions for environmentally, socially and economically adapted settlements with the focus on urban infrastructure systems.

The EiABC and the Bauhaus University in Germany are entering into a new phase of their academic partnership structured around the research and implementation of sustainable construction techniques that tangibly improve both urban planning and design. From December 15 to 17, key actors involved in the building structure and infrastructure areas (academic and business professionals, city and state officials as well as members of the civil society) gathered for the first edition of the “International Symposium on Climate Adapted Urban Infrastructure”. A topic of paramount importance in a context of extreme fast urbanization and sharp rise of precarious settlements. The EiABC and the Bauhaus University intend to play a crucial role: by transferring knowledge and skill to the Ethiopian construction industry, and by developing and promoting cost efficient housing construction technology. And first and foremost it needs the consideration of space of and time: how will the housing unit fit in the overall cityscape, and how will it last over time. One direction was discussed: a holistic planning approach that gives priority to urban infrastructure strategies (sanitation, waste, roads) but at the same time integrating participatory design methods and urban planning together with the industry. First steps were discussed with the Flintstone Plc.

It aims at laying the foundations for the integration of all infrastructural aspects into the planning process of urban quarters, and also for the development of flexible and adaptable supply and building systems.

The Symposium was funded by the EiABC, the German Embassy Addis Ababa - Green Climate Funds, the GiZ Addis Ababa, the Bauhaus University Weimar, the Flintstone Plc. and the Goethe-Institute in Addis Ababa.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 December 2014 09:33

OPEN LECTURE XAVIER VILALTA

Thursday, 04 December 2014 08:16

The traditionally strong and inspiring knowledge exchange between the Bauhaus University Weimar and the EiABC took another step towards a growing collaboration.

Thursday, 04 December 2014 06:55

Ten students from Weimar - mixed from six different European countries - for ten days explored the cultural, social and architectural traditions and dynamics of the fast growing Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The excursion was an integral part of the Design studio "Adaptable Structures in Emerging Cities", in which the students will be challenged with the pressuring lack of sufficient housing and develop new planning and construction techniques in one of the fastest growing cities. The students will approach this task by using advanced Planning methods in combination with current technologies in digital Fabrication, reaching from CNC Machines to Rapid Prototyping.

The student council of EiABC in support with the External and International office organized the first student’s assembly in EiABC history.

In this assembly different student clubs were represented, such as AIESEC in EiABC , CUP and many others. This event also included the launch of two new clubs (Rotaract and Student Ethiopia.)

The External and International office also has been represented by its department members to show case the different mobility facilities it provides.

Managing Director Béatrice Delpouve , Scientific Director Joachim Dieterand Head of External and International office Agus Prianto were present in this event.

NEW ADDIS ABABA CITY MAP PRESENTED DURING 60TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT AT EIABC

Tuesday, 28 October 2014 08:32

Picture: Dr. Ephrem Gebremariam presenting the new Addis Ababa City Map at EiABC

For a very dynamic city like Addis it is important to have frequent updates apply map-making procedures with international standards, which can be used efficiently by tourists and international community. A city map is a thematic map <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thematic_map> prepared with large scale to enable the best possible orientation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientation_(mental)> in urban spaces. The map is designed to include the upcoming Light Rail Train Station names and location, which makes it very informative for people who seek the information prior hand. The map is prepared with the joint effort of Prof Bernd Meissner of Beuth University of Applies Sciences in Berlin and Dr. Ephrem Gebremariam of EiABC, Addis Ababa University.

As part of the 60th Anniversary of EiABC, the former Building College released this City map of Addis Ababa and made it available for users at the Addis Ababa University Book Centre located at AAU Main Campus in Sidist Kilo.

EiABC made the map available for all staff members, all chair holder and unit leaders.

The mentioned staff is requested take 2 copies of the map, one folded and one wall map, from the office of he Scientific Director. Please contact the director’s secretary Meskerem Tesfaye to get your copy.

EiABC is conducting first round of PhD defence since the start of PhD Program Environmental planning in 2010

Wednesday, 08 October 2014 12:49

On Thursday October 09, 2014, the first ever PhD candidate of EiABC will defend his dissertation in the PhD Program Environmental Planning, which is running since 2010.

Aramde Fetene Mengistu will defend the study of Landuse/Land Cover Change and its Impacts on the Habitat Structure of Nech Sar National Park, Ethiopia: Implication for Management Strategy for the first time since the start of the PHD program.

Dr. Kumelachew Yeshitela, (EiABC), Chair of Ecosystem Planning and Management, Addis Ababa University and Professor Dr. Ruediger Prasse, Leibniz University of Hannover, Institute of Environmental Planning, Hannover, Germany will be the supervisors for this defence.